Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-07-29
THE OLD MATS DOOM.
Jacob Sharp, Chief Boodler, Sen.
tenced to -Four Years Hard
Labor in Sing Sing.
A Fine of $1,000 Also Imposed on
Him The Remarks OF
the Judge.
New York special. |

Jacob Sharp, chief of the New York
aboodlers, has been sentenced to Sing sing
for a term of four years with hard LABOR,
and fine CT $1,000 was imposed upon him.
The clock Was indicating almost noon
when Sharp was almost carried into the
courtroom. His suffering wife and son-in-
law were close behind him, and deep lines
. WEAKNESS and sorrow overspread
their faces as they seated themselves
!eside the convicted man and famed his
livid face without Bringing anything like a
semblance of color back TO it. Sharp sat
with clasped hands and bowed head at the
foot of the table, facing the bench. HIS
face, aim IS buried Ill his chest, was
flushed and sickly looking under the riy
eted uaze Of ali present. who were silently
arins at the convicted railroad king.
Mrs. Sharp and the rest of the family,
like the prisoner himself, were silent.
There was applause in the courtroom
whom Judge Barrett delivered the sentence,
and outside the announcement was greet
ed with cheers.
Sharps lawyer moved for a new trial,
bu; it was denied. The Court, in pro-
nouncing sentence, said the task he had to
perform was the most delicate in his whole
professional career. He had received many
letters from many people, pleading
Tor mercy for Sharp. But court
was not appointed to be merciful
any more than was dictated by the
laws of justice. "a Judge is appointed to
award penalty accord ng to the otfense.
when all the circumstances connected with
The commission of the ofense have been
duly weighed and considered. The de-
PENDANT herein asking for mercy can give
nothing as a plea for clemency but age and
sickness. On the merits of the case he
cert inly is entitled to none. 1t is absurd
| 10 state that he was not guilty Of giving the
brides, as he was unmistakably the leader
| of the whole affair. There is not here. as
in the case OF the aldermen. any attempt to
prove the defendants good character. The
| crime itself was an enormous one-the
raising of $500, uOj to corrupt half Il legis-
lature."
Judge Barrett reviewed the corrupt ac-
ton Of tie d, PENDANT in forming bogus
company to CONTRACT with the Seventh Az
enue hallway, Of which he is director,
and alluded to the defendants receiving
| - ,GHn. 900 OF profit as sheer larceny, for
which he could have been indicted 5ust as
vel, us for bribery. The Judge continued:
"What is there to excite pity or mercy
except the age and ill-hca.th OF the psis-
oner aud the mourning condition of his
family? With over 81, GOA,G Goa in lis pocket
he clamors for mercy without offering to
pay back Il penny o. the money stolen, SO
that. Should he die i'll prison, his family
has Il vas, fortune to fall back upon."
1t is Mis-. Sharp buried her face in
her handkerchief and wtpt silently. while
the prisoner himself did not lift his face
from the ,ahle.
The Legislature does not allow us to so
below the mlnlnu II penalty in such grave
c1,ense us tie present is, continued Judge
Barrett. All cannot be sat SIZED: those
who camor for The prisoners receiving tho
full pcna'ty of the law aud those calling for
a reprimand. All things have been consid-
cred. and tie Judgment of this court is that
the prisoner be confined four years at hard
labor and that he pay fine Of $1,000"
Sharp was sent back 10 srend the nigh
i'll Ludlow Street jail. Application was
made to Judge Potter, of the Supreme
| Coult, for 4 stay OF proceedings.